Thursday, February 1, 2007

Warhead of the Daleks 1 (c)

25. MODEL SHOT

The battle cruiser is approaching the ship. It fires a volley of thin red beams at one side of the space station. There is an explosion that clears to show a jagged hole in the hull. Gas and steam are sucked out.

26. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

Everyone is flung to the floor. The lights flicker, go out and then turn dark red. More alarms go off and a sinister breeze washes through the chamber. A control panel bursts into flames and two crewmembers desperately try to put out the fire.

PHINWe’ve been hit!

MERCERYou don’t say!

Mercer and Phin scramble for the controls. Osborn stares at the display.

OSBORNAft section’s been breached!

MERCEROsborn! Engage the emergency shutters before we depressurize completely! Seal off the damaged area!

OSBORNBut that could trap some of people – they’d die!

MERCERWe’ll all die if we don’t!

He punches down some controls. The room stops shaking and the red lights brighten as a couple of alarms shut down. Osborn grabs her headphones.

MERCERWhat’s happening, Osborn?

No reply. Mercer’s terror turns to anger.

MERCERWHAT’S HAPPENING?

Shakily, Osborn tries to repeat what she can hear.

OSBORNEngineering reports... engineering reports extensive damage to the generating plant. We barely have enough power for the emergency lighting.

MERCERPhin, get whatever’s left of the external sensors back on line! Osborn, get the laser canon aimed on that cruiser and give it all we’ve got.

Osborn doesn’t move.

MERCERI SAID OPEN FIRE, OSBORN!

She snaps back at him equally furious.

OSBORNAND I SAID WE DON’T HAVE THE POWER! The generating plant was damaged – we can’t fire the laser cannons, we’d lose all the power we’ve got, including life support!

Mercer looks sick.

MERCERSo we’re defenseless.

PHINUh, is it a good time to mention the cruiser’s closing in on us?

Osborn and Mercer glare at him.

PHINThought not.

27. INT. TARDIS ROOM – TURLOUGH’S ROOM (NIGHT)

As per the one in TERMINUS. Most of the possessions belonging to Adric are missing. There is an easel with a painting on it in the corner. Turlough lies in bed still unconscious. Kamelion is packing a medical kit professionally. Tegan watches on, anxious.

TEGANYou’re sure he’ll be all right?

KAMELIONThe concussion is minor. I have provided a sedative which will allow him to recover.

TEGANSorry we didn’t come and check on you.

Kamelion looks up, mildly confused.

KAMELIONMiss Jovanka?

TEGANWhen the Gravis tore the TARDIS apart. Anything could have happened to you. We didn’t even check. I’m sorry.

KAMELIONYou feel sorry for a mere machine?

TEGANI thought you were supposed to be the aristocrat of all automatons.

KAMELIONI am whatever my master wishes to be.

Tegan scowls. He’s making her uncomfortable.

KAMELIONYou are upset and frustrated. You are no longer enjoying this.

TEGANYou’ve killed the mood all right.

KAMELIONNo. I mean this life. Travelling in the TARDIS.

TEGANMaybe it’s just your company, Kamelion.

Kamelion, not sounding offended, turns for the door.

KAMELIONIf that is so I will return to my quarters.

TEGANNo, wait... Look, I’m just worried about the Doctor. He’s gone off on his own again. Stay here. I’ll go looking for him.

KAMELIONI think I should accompany you, Miss Jovanka.

TEGANHow can you help?

KAMELIONWhile I prefer this form, I can assume others that may be useful. I am also quicker and stronger than a mere human. Besides, with two of us we increase the chance of finding the Doctor more quickly.

Tegan can’t fault his logic.

TEGANOK, then. Come on.

They leave.

28. EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT (DAY)

The Doctor walks the length of the street, clearly searching for the presence he felt watching him. As he passes the doors he looks up at the walkway, then pulls open the doors and slips inside, gently closing the doors behind him. We pan up the street. The policemen are there, watching.

29. INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE (DAY)

A gloomy section. There are discarded wooden packing cases stacked up against the walls. Papers and lengths of wood litter the floor. There are a few puddles and some light comes through a doorway opposite the entrance. There is a faint murmur of voices. The Doctor pauses by a rackety flight of steps leading up into the darkness. The Doctor takes off his hat, furls it, and stuffs it in his pocket. He moves forward, resting his hand on the bannister. He pulls back his hand, and then looks up the steps, then at the light.

DOCTORDecisions...

He takes out a coin, flips it, catches it and peers at it. Then, making sure he doesn’t see, he reverses it so it gives the result he wanted. He turns and hurries up the steps as quietly as he can.

30. EXT. DOCKLANDS (DAY)

It is approaching dusk. The door to the TARDIS swings open and Tegan and Kamelion emerge.

TEGANBack on Earth again. London, too.

She rubs her bare arm, cold. She reaches out and closes the TARDIS door. Kamelion is looking out at the Thames.

TEGANI don’t know how I cope. I mean, just a few minutes ago, we were in a place where Earth was gone forever, where there was no life at all. Just a small colony on a distant planet. All alone...

KAMELIONThat destiny is billions of years in the future, Miss Jovanka. Your world of the twentieth century still exists as you remember.

TEGANI know. But I’ve seen it end... I’ve seen it begin. Is anyone really built for that?

She drifts off into thought. Kamelion turns to look at the warehouses.

KAMELIONWould you like to continue this conversation, Miss Jovanka?

TEGANHmm? Oh, er, no thanks.

KAMELIONThen we should continue. From the information you have given me, I deduce that the Doctor will head in that direction towards the terminal of the time corridor.

They head towards the warehouses.

TEGANKamelion?

KAMELIONYes, Miss Jovanka.

TEGANYou’ve never wanted to come with us before. Why now?

KAMELIONI feel... I believe that this time is different.

Tegan tenses, and stops walking. Kamelion notices and stops.

TEGANWhy is that?

Kamelion stares at her.

KAMELIONI can hear it.

Tegan whispers too, unnerved.

TEGANHear what?

Kamelion looks up at the sky, his expression almost haunted. He whispers.

Kamelion watches her go, then turns and follows her. The breeze continues. Moments later the two policemen emerge from a doorway. They have obviously seen the whole thing.

31. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

A long, deserted section with brick partitions and thick concrete columns supporting the ceiling. This and the gloom makes it difficult to see far in any direction. There are hemispherical windows at the far end, but grubby and dark. There is rubbish scattered around, including a rusting crowbar. The Doctor is present.

Picking up the crowbar, he holds it out in front of him – but not as a weapon. Carefully he moves through the area, prodding the air in front of him with the blunt end of the bar. He circles a column, then approaches the middle of the area. He very carefully prods the air in front of him. Nothing happens. The Doctor is surprised. He prods the floor. A look of weary realization crosses his face.

DOCTOROf course. Wrong floor.

32. INT. WAREHOUSE - LOWER LEVEL (DAY)

Two of the soldiers are still dealing with the boxes of equipment. Archer crosses to the disused foreman’s office. There are several trestle tables, a kettle, an abandoned game of cards, etc. All from the builders who fled in panic. Calder is righting a stool.

LAIRDJudging by the time sheets, they were sub-contractor converting the warehouse into a block of flats. This was first on site inspection. By the look of things they were half way through lunch when whatever happened... happened.

The Colonel looks around, thinking.

ARCHER No sign of bodies, gun fire, no violence. But they clearly left in a hurry.

CALDERLooks like, sir. But they must have closed the doors behind them.

LAIRDIf they were in that much of a hurry, why bother?

ARCHERMaybe they were trying to keep something in. In any case we should have been told about this. Sergeant Calder, radio UNIT. I want a full rundown of whoever they were and what precisely they were doing – and why intelligence neglected to mention we were heading for a work site.

CALDERSir.

Calder heads over to the others.

ARCHERRight, Professor, help the lads unpack and set up your equipment.

LAIRDYes, Colonel.

She turns and leaves. Archer notes some loose change on the table, and nicks it. He thinks again and grimly returns it with a sigh.

ARCHERWhat happened here?

33. MODEL SHOT

The cruiser heads straight for Cassius Four.

34. INT. CASSIUS FOUR BRIDGE (NIGHT)

Mercer runs over to a wall panel, pulls out a card from his uniform pocket and slides it into the lock. Phin and Osborn follow.

PHINRoylan, this is stupid. We should surrender!

MERCERThey’ll wipe us out anyway.

PHINMaybe not.

OSBORNWhy would anyone else want the prisoner? You said they were extinct!

PHINThey are!

OSBORNBut that’s one of their ships, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

PHINYes. But how can we fight them? The deflector shield’s gone, we have no weaponry and one of the airlocks is wide open for them!

Mercer bangs the panel and forces it open with his bare hands. It contains a heap of small hand-blasters and squared-off explosives.

MERCERThe armory’s in a decent enough state.

OSBORNWave those things around and we’ll all be viable targets!

MERCEREither help me or get some more of the surveillance systems back on line, Osborn!

The door opens. Doran enters, along with Styles and Zena. They are both grubby and Styles has several streaks of blood (not hers) on her jacket.

DORANMercer! What the hell is going on?

MERCERWe’re under attack, what do you think?

DORANI think over half the crew is now dead!

PHINHalf?!

ZENAEveryone who wasn’t on duty was in the recreation centre.

Osborn sighs.

OSBORNAnd the entire section was sealed off after it was hit.

Doran crosses to a screen on the far wall showing a fuzzy-out-of-focus view of the cruiser.

MERCERDo you recognize the design, sir?

PHINIt’s a...

DORANIt’s one of their battle cruisers all right. And it’s about to dock. Are all the airlocks sealed?

PHINThree.

DORANThen that’s the one they’ll aim for. Get the maintenance crew and whoever else is left down there – block the corridor with everything they can.

STYLESThat will just mean more slaughter!

OSBORNDoctor Styles is right! We should surrender!

DORANThey don’t accept surrender as anything other than a signal to open fire. We need to buy time to set up our trump card.

MERCERWhich is?

Doran grins and holds up a swipe card similar to the one Mercer used.

DORANThis!

35. EXT. WAREHOUSE (DAY)

Not far from the entrance to the warehouse. Tegan and Kamelion emerge from the shadows.

TEGANBack in the light again. The dark wasn’t too scary for you, Kamelion?

KAMELIONI am incapable of apprehension, Miss Jovanka, unless...

TEGAN...unless your disguise is? Maybe that body is scared of the dark?

Kamelion does not reply. Tegan shrugs.

TEGANStill no sign of the Doctor. Or anyone, come to that.

KAMELIONThe TARDIS data systems have mapped the pattern of the time corridor coordinates onto the landscape. The point of the termination should be somewhere in this vicinity.

TEGANIf you knew that, why didn’t we come straight here?

KAMELIONThe Doctor will not necessarily have come directly here. It is possible he would have been returning to the TARDIS. This way, we know we have not missed him.

TEGANWe haven’t missed anyone. This place is deserted.

Kamelion pauses by the alcove where the tramp was shot.

KAMELIONIsolation makes you uneasy, Miss Jovanka?

TEGANI didn’t want to be an air stewardess to keep to myself. I hate it.

Kamelion crouches by the alcove and runs a hand over the floor.

KAMELIONHate what?

TEGANFeeling alone. Don’t you ever get that feeling?

Kamelion doesn’t look at her.

KAMELIONOh, no, Miss Jovanka. That’s the one feeling I never get.

Tegan looks up at the sudden, bitter note in Kamelion’s otherwise emotionless voice.

TEGANWhat is it? What’s wrong?

Kamelion rises and holds out a hand. In it is a shiny metal shape.

KAMELIONProjectile bullets, judging by the chemical residue of gunpowder, fired within the last thirteen hours.

TEGANWell, that’s hardly alien. Probably some gangsters shooting at each other when the police aren’t around. On second thoughts, being lonely here might be safer.

Kamelion studies the bullets.

KAMELIONIt is possible that it is connected to the time corridor.

TEGANHow? No 1980s gangsters are going to have time technology, it would have to be aliens.

KAMELIONCorrect. However, the aliens may be ensuring that stay undetected by using contemporary weaponry so as not to alert anyone as to their presence.

Tegan heads over towards the double doors.

TEGANWell, one bullet does not mean they are hostile.

KAMELIONThis bullet killed someone.

Tegan freezes.

TEGANHow do you know?

KAMELIONI know many things.

Tegan turns to face him, angrily.

TEGANKamelion...

KAMELIONThis bullet still has traces of human blood, type designated O Positive. The impact dent in the doorway suggests it was fired at someone hiding there. If they were, it is highly likely the bullet penetrated their heart.

TEGANBut there’s no blood.

KAMELIONThere is blood. But not a noticeable amount.

TEGANWell, people tend to bleed a bit when they’re shot through the heart.

KAMELIONThe body has been moved.

TEGANYou don’t say. Still no blood stains.

KAMELIONWe are close to the terminal of the time corridor. It would be possible to temporarily extrude the terminal – and thus remove the body without leaving evidence.

TEGANExcept the bullet.

KAMELIONYou are the only human we know who is aware of the time corridor and your immediate reaction was to believe the bullet was down to normal human activity. A contemporaneous human would no doubt believe likewise.

TEGANSo someone was shot and then their body was taken away by the time corridor.

TEGANKamelion, if they just shoot people without warning, then the Doctor...

KAMELIONThe Doctor is still alive. His mental signature is within the building.

TEGANWhy didn’t you mention it earlier?

KAMELIONYou did not ask. Shall we go to him?

TEGANWhy not? It’s probably warmer inside, anyway.

They cross to the warehouse doors. Kamelion pulls them open with ease. He steps back to allow Tegan to enter. She doesn’t move.

TEGANNo, you first.

Kamelion enters obediently. Tegan cautiously follows. We pan back. There is a policeman at the far end of the street, watching silently. The other one is at the other end of the street. They silently converge on the doors.

36. INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE (DAY)

They enter and look around.

TEGANAny idea where the Doctor is?

KAMELIONHe is nearby. Most likely up that staircase.

TEGAN‘Right back’, he says...

They climb the stairs. Kamelion glances behind him at the open doorway. Nothing. He continues up the steps after Tegan.

37. INT. WAREHOUSE – UPPER LEVEL (DAY)

The Doctor crouches by one of the windows, trying to clean it with a handkerchief. He mutters under his breath.DOCTORThere must be some way out onto that walkway... perhaps on the other side...

There is the loud creak of the door opening. The Doctor snatches up the crowbar, thinks again and is about to put it down when he hears footsteps. He ducks behind a column and listens intently. Tegan and Kamelion enter. They whisper.

TEGANStill no sign of him.

KAMELIONHe’s here. I know it.

TEGANAnd you know many things, I heard. Doctor?

DOCTORBehind you.

They whirl around – Kamelion is slower, because he isn’t that surprised. Tegan is relieved and sighs.

TEGANThere you are.

DOCTORI told you to stay in the TARDIS with Turlough.

KAMELIONHe will recover.

DOCTORI hope so, Kamelion. I hope so.

TEGANHave you found the time corridor yet?

DOCTORIt’s on the ground floor.

TEGANHow can you tell?

DOCTORI am a Time Lord, and as such, sensitive to disturbances in the time field.

TEGAN How sensitive?

The Doctor grimaces and steps towards them.

DOCTORPainfully sensitive. It’s like stinging nettles on the back of my hands. Last time I encountered something like this, there were Daleks as well.

TEGANDaleks? What are...

Kamelion quickly interrupts her.

KAMELIONIs that why you are showing such caution?

DOCTORNot entirely. You see, we’re not alone here.

38. INT. WAREHOUSE – LOWER LEVEL (DAY)

Calder is finishing setting up the R/T. He switches it on and there is a loud crackling. He frowns and switches it off. Archer approaches the doorway to the entrance.

ARCHERCalder? Did you hear that?

Calder grins sheepishly.

CALDERSorry sir. The set’s playing up.

ARCHERNo, not that. I thought I heard voices.

The other soldiers and Laird look up. Archer holds up a hand to indicate silence. A pause. There is only the sound of the breeze.

CALDERI can’t hear anything, sir.

ARCHERNo. Maybe the builders are just upstairs. The rest of you, stay here. Calder, with me.

Archer unholsters his gun and leaves. Pausing only to collect a machine gun, Calder heads after him. Laird turns to one of the soldiers, GALLOWAY, anxious.

LAIRDI think we should have investigated the Glastonbury Sightings instead.